Summit on trade in endangered species begins in Panama

PANAMA – Hippos poached for their skin and teeth, sharks hunted to sell their fins and a tiny frog with translucent skin are among hundreds of species that could get greater protection at the United Nations wildlife conference that kicks off on Monday.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), in which 184 nations will meet over the next two weeks in Panama, will consider tightening trade regulations on around 600 plants and animals potentially at risk of extinction. Less restrictive international trade regulations will be recommended for nine other species.

“The goal of CITES is to ensure that these wild species can survive in the wild for future generations,” Secretary General Ivonne Higuero told The Associated Press.

The international wildlife trade treaty, which was adopted 49 years ago in Washington, DC, has been praised for helping to stop the illegal and unsustainable trade in ivory and rhino horn, as well as in whales and sea turtles.

But it has been criticized for its limitations, including that it depends on cash-strapped developing countries to crack down on illegal trade, which has become a lucrative $10 billion a year business.

Millions of species are not listed on CITES, including more than a third of the online reptile trade, according to a study. Domestic markets are outside the scope of the treaty and some experts have complained that CITES listings often come after a species has been affected too much. The Internet is fueling illegal trade. An inquiry this month by the Wildlife Conservation Society found that jaguar parts, whose trade is prohibited by CITES, are widely available online.

Still, conservationists said CITES remains the only tool available to ensure trade in plants and animals is conducted in a sustainable manner. Governments will list the species that require permits, providing some level of transparency to the trade. Or if the trade puts a plant or animal at risk, a list will limit it or ban it altogether.

“CITES is working, but it can only be as good as its implementation by exporting countries, transit countries and importing countries,” said Susan Lieberman, vice president for international policy at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

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